My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lod, God and Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.
ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY:
THE GRAVE DANGERS OF SPIRITUAL
DESENSITIZATION AND EVIL
TEMPTATIONS
The Holy Fathers of the Church (such as Saint Mark the Ascetic and Saint John Climacus) outline a precise spiritual progression showing how a person moves from an external temptation to a desensitized state:
1. PROVOCATION: A random thought, image, or allure from the enemy (satan) is presented to the mind. This is not a sin; it is merely an external knock on the door.
2. COUPLING: The person begins to entertain the thought, playing with it or conversing with it.
3. ASSENT: The intellect and will agree to the thought, deciding to act on it when the opportunity arises.
4. CAPTIVITY: The thought repetition, the sin becomes ingrained habit or ADDICTION. THIS IS WHERE DESENSITIZATION PEAKS.
II. THE DANGERS OF
DESENSITIZATION
When a believer repeatedly gives in to passions, THEIR SPIRITUAL SENSES BECOMES NUMB. Orthodox Christian theology identifies several dangers of this state:
a. THE LOSS OF THE "WATCHMAN" (CONSCIENCE): THE CONSCIENCE IS MEANT TO BE A SENSITIVE INSTRUMENT THAT REACTS TO SIN LIKE AN EYE REACTS TO SAND. DESENSITIZATION COATS THE CONSCIENCE IN A SPIRITUAL CALLUS, MAKING GRAVE SINS FEEL NORMAL OR TRIVIAL AND ACCEPTABLE.
b. THE STATE OF ACEDIA AND DESPAIR: As evil thoughts become NORMALIZED a person often falls into ACEDIA (SPIRITUAL APATHY, LISTLESSNESS, OR SLOTH). They no longer care about their salvation, which the Holy Fathers of the Church warn IS A GATEWAY TO TOTAL DESPAIR.
c. DELUSION: A desensitized mind is easily TRICKED BY THE ENEMY INTO BELIEVING THAT EVIL IS GOOD,OR THA TONE’S SPIRITUAL STANDING IS PERFECTLY FINE WHEN IT IS ACTUALLY PERILOUS. The enemy (Satan) is cunning and will use people who have already been conquered by him as instruments of evil to deceive naive or spiritually immature individuals to commit sin. These wicked and evil individuals are people who gain one’s confidence and trust. They come from different backgrounds and positions such as physicians, teachers, coaches, political leaders, bishops, priests, therapists, college deans, professors, and people of power and influence. Many good but naive people have been exploited and used by them. Therefore, believers must always be vigilant and aware of the dangers lurking around them at all times and never let their guard down.
d. SLAVERY TO THE ENEMY (SATAN): By becoming numb to the allurements of the devil, a person WILLINGLY HANDS OVER THEIR FREE WILL, BECOMING A COOPERATIVE OR WILLING PRISONER TO DEMONIC INFLUENCE RATHER THAN A FREE CHILD OF GOD.
III. The Orthodox Remedy
REAWAKENING THE SPIRITUAL
SENSES
The Orthodox Church does not leave believers in this state but offers a robust therapeutic framework to reverse desensitization:
1. WATCHFULNESS (NEPSIS): The practice of constant mental sobriety and vigilance. A believer MUST GUARD THE "GATES OF THE HEART" TO CATCH AND STRIKE DOWN EVIL THOUGHTS THE MOMENT THEY APPEAR AS A PROVOCATION.
2. THE JESUS PRAYER: "LORD JESUS CHRIST, SON OF GOD, HAVE MERCY ON ME A SINNER." This short, continuous prayer acts AS A SPIRITUAL SHIELD. SHARPENING FOCUS AND INVITING THE GRACE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO MELT A HARDENED HEART.
3. FREQUENT CONFESSION: Bringing hidden thoughts and sins into the light of the Mysterion (Sacrament) of REPENTANCE BREAKS THE POWER OF THE ENEMY (SATAN). IT PREVENTS SINS FROM FESTERING IN THE DARK AND FORMING A HABIT.
Our Holy Church is truly a hospital and not just a place of worship. We, believers, enter the holy church injured spiritually and physically for the purpose of worshipping God and Savior Jesus Christ Who is the Physician of our souls and bodies. As One Who is All-Knowing knows our individual ailment and injury before we even enter and lovingly offers the appropriate medicine for each one. No one who believes in Him and His power to heal and forgive leaves the same way he or she entered,
_____________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
+ Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +
With sincere agape in Christ’s Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George
4. ASCETIC DISCIPLINE (FASTING)
AND ALMSGIVING (CHARITY OR )PHILANTHROPY)
Fasting tames the physical desires, teaching the soul that it can say "no" to legitimate comforts, which builds the spiritual muscle needed to say "NO" TO EVIL ALLUREMENTS.
The Orthodox Church teaches that the devil’s greatest trick IS TO MAKE SIN LOOK OR SIM HARMLESS AND MUNDANE. SALVATION REQUIRES A DAILY, ACTIVE STRUGGLE TO KEEP THE HEART SOFT, RECEPTIVE, AND PIERCINGLY AWARE OF GOD’S PRESENCE.
